Spring wheel



W'. D. NLLLS.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.23, 1920.

Patented Jan. 10, 19.22,

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VJILLIAM D. NELS, 0F DAVENPORT, IOWA.

SPRING WHEEL.

incassa.

specificationofrriettersratem. Pawnee@ Jam, 1Q, 1922,

Application filed January 23, 1920. Serial No. 353,438.

To @ZZ @l1/0m t may concern.' K

lle it known that l, WILLIAM D. Nains, aV

. citizen of the United States, and a resident durable, the necessityfor pneumatic tires being entirely avoided.

An important novel feature of the invention resides in the specialconstruction and arrangement of parts whereby the cushion-d ing means isfully enclosed and protected, and a simple cheap construction produced.

The invention, with other objects and ad-` vantages thereof and theparticulary construction, combination and arrangement of partscomprising the same, will be under,-`

stood from the following detailed construc-y tion when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof andillustrating one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a slde'elevation of a wheel con--` structedin accordance withthe invention,`

parts being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a transverse section of theiy wheel; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail section illustrating the spring mounting.

While l have illustrated a specific embodiment of the invention in thedrawings, it will of course be understood that minor changes andvariations in the particular construction shown, and the embodiment ofthe invention in other forms as will appeal to those skilled in the artand falling within the scope of the appended claims, may be practicedwithout departing'from the spirit of the invention.

rlhe invention comprehends a wheel comprising a hub part with spacedparallel plates rigid therewith, an outer body part supported betweenthe parallel plates of the hub for vertical movement relatively thereto,and spring connections between the relatively movable parts including` aseries of transversely disposed chambers arranged at regular intervalsaround the wheel on one of the wheel parts between said hub plates, andspring members seated in the chambers and connected with the other wheelpart, said spring members being adapted to act jointly in yieldablysupporting the load and cushioning the same against shocks.

Referring in detail to the construction shown, 1 designates the hub `ofthe wheel. 2.,

are spaced parallel plates rigid with the hub 1, the plates beingconveniently formed as separate parts and suitably securedbyrivets 3 orthe like to flanges `l on the hub, one of said flanges 4t beingremovable to facilitate the assembling of the parts. The outer body partof the wheel consists of a disk member 5 positioned between the plates 2and supported thereby for vertical play relatively to the hub 1, thedisk 5 being provided with a central opening 6 to accommodate the hub y1, and with annular bearings 7 8 slidably engaging the opposing faces ofthe hub plates. The body part 5 has a plurality of circular openings 9therein equally spaced therearound, and rigidly secured to` said `body 5in the openings 9 are cylinders 10 forming cylindrical transverselydisposed chambers. Positioned within the chambers "10 are a series ofspiral springs 11, the inner` ends of the springs being securelyfastened to a plurality of bolts 12 extending through the openings 9 inthe body member 5 from the'plates 2, and the outer endsof the spiralsprings 11 being free and loosely engaging the walls of the transversechambers 10.` The bolts 12 have reduced end portions 12 with shoulders122 to fit against the hub plates, said bolts 12, with nuts 13,constituting-means for securely connecting the plates y 2 together andholding the same in proper spaced relationship, and also serving asbearing members for the inner portions of the spring elements 11.

The annular bearings 7,-8 consist of pairs of rings Ya-8a arrangedopposite each other at opposite sides of the disk member 5 and securedthereto by rivets 14 or equivalent fastening means, the rings 7a- 8abeing constructed of metal having the necessary wearing qualities toprovide durable and etlicient outer bearing faces. cated adjacent thecentral opening 6 in the disk member 5, and the bearing 8 j ust beyondthe ring of openings 9 in the disk member The bearing -7 is lol 5, the'pairs of rings not only serving'as be'arings for the movable bodymember5,but also as reinforcing and*strengtheningmeans for the same.

The hub plates 2 at their outer'niarginall" vtubular pocket portions atplaces between portions have inwardly curved extensions 2%'t5he ends 2lofwhichmake a--close sliding fit with the side faces of the movable bodyI member 5. Any suitableform of treadinay be employed, the construction'shown con- `sisting'of a 4channeled'rim part 15," and a --"solidr`ubertire Yof oneof thev conventional types seated therein. v

The-arrangement of the "springs 10,' which .are Vof the requiredstrnegth and properly jtensioned,`is'sucli that the load is equallyA`distributed throughout thev same, andV they` act in conjunction Ywitheach other to absorb `Aor reduce shocks and '.strains, the wheelstructure itself affording the required vresiliency andcushioning'medium, and-avoidingV the necessity'forpneumatie tires.

Itfwill be notedthat the specialconstruc- "tion andarrangement of parts"liereinbefore deseribed affords a strong, durable wheel structure, andthe ."'resilient connections between the a partsa'rel completely housedand i protected.

W hat Ifclaim is: a l. ln a wheel of the character described, a

thetreadmember 'and relatively"V free at its vinner edge,` said lastmentionedtmember passing lbetween thesideplates and having therebetweena Vcircnlaiseries of spring pockets lformed by tubularportions project--v ing outwardly from the opposite faces of the `disk"like member, butterminating short of the innerlfaces of the side plates',springs in saidspring pockets mounted in partto'have a iixed connection'withy theoppositeside bers' secured to project from the opposite faces' ofthe-diskilike'member outwardly to bear against the inner faces of theoppositeJ-side members beyond the ends of the the spring pockets and thekhub and also between the spring pockets and the tread ineml"-ber.

fplat'es securedy to the hub member and relatively free at theiron'teredges tolprovide a `jziassageway therebetween` a ring shaped flatdisk 4like member' ysecured at its louter `edge "to the tread member andrelatively freeat its inner edge,`fsa'idlast mentioned member passingbetween the side plates and having therebetween a lcircular series ofvspring Y'pocketsfformed Vby tubular portions projectlling outwardlyfrom the 'opposite faces of the jdisk likemember,l but terminating shortof the inner 'faces of the side plates, springs in saidspring pocketsmounted in part tol have aiixed connection with the `opposite sideplates and spacing and reinforcing mem-V Vbers `secured to project fromthe* opposite"fa`ces -ofV the disk like member outwardlyto bearagainstthe innerfa'cesof the opposite side members beyondtlie'ends oftlietubular pocket portions at places `between the springvpo'clnets `andthe hub and also `between the springpo'ckets and the 4tread inemberftheouter 'edges of the side plates being 'closed inwardly beyondthe lastmentioned or outermost spacing and "br-aaring` members Vand adjacent tothe side faces of the disk like member working therebetween.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo'witiie'sses.

WILLIAM D. *NEIL-S. vWitnesses): 'Y

